Improving Artillery Impressions

[artillerybuff]

Re: Improving Artillery Impressions

[QUOTE=Bob 125th NYSVI;100728]
1) Know your drill and perform it as the book says
2) Dress the part as appropriate
3) Make you camp as accurate as possible
4) Then worry about an accurate gun
5) Next worry about the limber
QUOTE]

Well put Bob! There is no just way to ever have a totally authentic artillery impression without spending over a million dollars, but as you pointed out, there is much we can do to perfect our impression with what we already have.

Anthony Variz

[Vicksburg Dave]

Re: Improving Artillery Impressions

We use Tandy's shearlings for our heads. Shearlings are spring lambskins that have been shorn to 1/2 to 3/4 inch from the skin. Any thicker, or unshorn, and you will have difficulty getting your sponge into and out of the barrel.

http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/products.asp

One skin should last a long time. We average using about one sponge head for every 20 to 30 rounds.

[artillerybuff]

Re: Improving Artillery Impressions

We use Tandy's shearlings for our heads. Shearlings are spring lambskins that have been shorn to 1/2 to 3/4 inch from the skin. Any thicker, or unshorn, and you will have difficulty getting your sponge into and out of the barrel.

http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/products.asp

One skin should last a long time. We average using about one sponge head for every 20 to 30 rounds.

Wow, they must wear out really fast! We fire an average of 40 rounds per gun at events and participate in a minimum of 12 events per year. Our fully rifled Parrotts are hard on sponges, however, the 100% Wool Berber Carpet sponges we are using have lasted over a year and are still going strong, and that is with double sponging between every shot. We rinse them off after every battle and wash them throughly after every event.

From what you are saying we would have to replace the lamb skins anywhere from 16 to 24 times per year. With two guns & two sponges per gun that would be 64 to 96 sponges per year. Perhaps you left off a zero and meant every 200-300 rounds?


Anthony Variz

[Vicksburg Dave]

Re: Improving Artillery Impressions

No, I'm not kidding. :) They do wear out rather quickly, but of course, we use the same sponges to clean our gun once a week.

Anon,

[Brian Baird]

Re: Improving Artillery Impressions

Dave,
I find it hard to believe that artillery units were cutting and sewing their own sponges in the field. This would of been an issued item. Replacing them as part of a living history program is correct but not making them.
We used sheepskin sponge heads for a 10 pdr parrott and they last most of the year.
Brian Baird

[Arkaos]

Re: Improving Artillery Impressions

Using our six pounder, we wear ours after about 35-45 rounds. It might be over zealous cleaning on our part but I guess we too are pretty tough on them.

Steve Black
Pea Ridge

[Vicksburg Dave]

Re: Improving Artillery Impressions

I do not get to spend much time indoors during the summer. If I do not make them in the field, then they will not get made at all. It's just part of the realities of public history.

[Danny]

Re: Improving Artillery Impressions

...As an infantryman watching you guys I think you need to work on several things in this order of importance and then work your way up to 'million dollar
battery' status.
1) Know your drill and perform it as the book says
2) Dress the part as appropriate
3) Make you camp as accurate as possible
4) Then worry about an accurate gun
5) Next worry about the limber
...

Bob,

True, 2 and 3 should be easy. I'm all for it, and it can and should be done.

But just so you know, item 1 "Know your drill and perform it as the book says" is not as easy as it sounds.

The problem with "Know your drill" is that it's only as good as the particular event, gunner, and soldiers you are with at that particular event. Drills are hardly ever consistent - in detail that is - from crew to crew in the same line, or between Batteries at the same event. They are more different yet between events, and especially different between seasons, even in one's own Battery . Yet, not to give the wrong impression, most of these drills are correct - it's just that it's a moving target.

I have no doubt you've heard individual artillerists tell you the proper way to do a drill, certain non-coms and officers especially. I think more privates will give you the reality of it, "blinders" (horse term) removed.

The second part of that: "perform it as the book says" is even harder because, whatever you've been told, there is no general agreement on which book applies. Even when there is agreement on which book for a particular event it's impossible to find the same interpetation - in detail - on what that printed drill is actually saying. Another big part of the problem is that the procedures calle for are not possible to risk today from a safety standpoint, which leaves the matter in a perpetual limbo.

Dan Wykes

[sedlakchristopher]

Re: Improving Artillery Impressions

IN REGARDS TO SPONGE HEADS -

I have in my collection an "original" sponge head for a 12 lb. Napoleon that was supposed to have come from Bannerman's Island in the 1950's.

It looks almost like burlap with unspun wool woven into the burlap rather than the entire hide.

Does anyone know of this practice or have any references to it?
Again, my search both in the "real" world and cyberworld has come up blank.

I did find from the book "Pittsburgh in the Civil War" by ??? that Allegheny Arsenal did make sponges, implements, etc... and various curious things...

Just curious if there is and/or STILL EXISTS this burlap/wool material.

I WILL POST PHOTOS of this piece as soon as possible, as it is out on loan to another historian.

Chris Sedlak

[Mbond057]

Re: Improving Artillery Impressions

Mong Warriors,

If anyone could post their private instructions and construction methods to make a more authentic sponge head I would greatly appreciate the assistance. If you have photos of the process you use to construct sponge heads it would also be a great help.

Respectfully,

[1stMaine]

Re: Improving Artillery Impressions

Bingo!,

PP 128 of the 1862 edition Ordnance Manual descibes the spnge. To wit:

Sponges are made of coarse, well-twisted woolen yarn, woven into a warp of strong hemp or flax thread, after the manner of Brussels carpet; the loops are 0.75 inches long.

They are wpven in webs with selvage between them, which being cut, the sponges are sewn to fit formers of the same dimensions as the sponge heads. One end of the spomge is drawn together with strong twine, and a tuft of woolen yarn is inserted at the centre of the gather or folds; a circular piece of strong canvas is stitched inside of the bottoml the other end, after eceiving the sponge head, is nailed to it around the staff with 6 copper nails, 1 inch long. 3 copper nails should also be driven into the bottom of the sponge to secure it to the head.

Similar sponges are made by working the yarn with needles into canvas bagsl but the wove sponges are equally good, and less expensive.

Sponges are likewise made of sheep-skin alum-dressed, with the wool onl but they are inderior to those made of yarn.

For dimensions of sponges, see the Table of sponge-heads, page 138.

Interesting.....

[Mbond057]

Re: Improving Artillery Impressions

Tim,

Thanks for sharing!

I have read several period sponge head construction methods but I am a kinetic learner who learns best by doing it and visual aids help me grasp the construction process. If anyone has the sponge construction process documented with photos please share.

Here is an authentic sponge head that is on display at the Ordnance Museum in Aberdeen, MD. From reading the construction instructions I still don’t understand how the sponge head is formed to make it have a cushiony uniformed look as in the photo. This looks like the sponge was constructed out of Berber carpet.

What material is used to form the cushion or bulk of the sponge when it is wrapped in Berber carpet? This is the step I seem to be confused about. Any help is appreciated.

[sedlakchristopher]

Re: Improving Artillery Impressions

Tim,
AHA!
Sounds pretty much like the original I have...

Mark and others,
I'm going to post photos of the one I have asap, also inside out so you can see the construction techniques.


Chris Sedlak

[Vicksburg Dave]

Re: Improving Artillery Impressions

Found these at the Horse Soldier. Looks like someone with rughooking experience could probably make them.

[Vicksburg Dave]

Re: Improving Artillery Impressions

After a bit of looking around online, my primary concern with using a woven sponge head would to be sure that it is made of the proper materials all the way through. I saw a number of wool and burlap carpet swatches with layers of cotton and glues in the backing that I would not consider safe for use. Likewise I would want to be doubly sure the burlap was made of period correct hemp, not some modern substitute.